patronage

Definitions

1. noun

   The act of providing approval and support; backing; championship.

   Example

   • His vigorous patronage of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives.
2. noun

   Customers collectively; clientele; business.

   Examples

   • The restaurant had an upper-class patronage.
   • The improved service to and from Taunton is fully justified by the passenger patronage to and from this town, which is a railhead for a large surrounding area.
3. noun

   The act or state of being a customer of some business.

   Example

   • The restaurant had "Thank you for your patronage!" printed on its take-out bags.
4. noun

   A communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient; condescension; disdain.

5. noun

   Granting favours or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support.

   Example

   • Patronage, nepotism, cronyism, abuse of power, and criminal activity flourish, sometimes for decades, in numerous town halls, police stations, and special-purpose government agencies in the suburbs.
6. noun

   Guardianship, as of a saint; tutelary care.

   Example

   • Each of the Arts whose office is to refine, purify, adorn, embellish and grace life is under the patronage of a Muse, no god being found worthy to preside over them.
7. noun

   The right of nomination to political office.

8. noun

   The right of presentation to church or ecclesiastical benefice; advowson.

   Example

   • Advowson is the right of presentation to a church, or ecclesiastical benefice. Advowson, advocatio, signifies the taking into protection; and therefore is synonymous with patronage
9. noun

   Patronising speech or behaviour.

   Example

   • The housekeeper, a very decorative brunette of thirty-five with a pseudo-English accent, greeted him with a mixture of grateful effusion and condescending patronage.
10. verb

    To support by being a patron of.

    Examples

    • Mingdi continued the policy of his father who had patronaged Confucian learning.
    • Table 5.4 reveals the role of criminal gangs’ patron under each crime category. From this, we can understand that 74 percent of the mercenaries are patronaged and supported by the politicians either of the ruling or opposition party.